Collaborative Research: Settlement Site Location and Development of an Estuarine Crustacean: Response to Chemical and Current Cues

向前 许多河口甲壳类动物有在沿海/大陆架地区发育的浮游幼虫，然后作为后期幼虫返回河口。 本研究旨在验证以下假设：河口甲壳动物使用化学和物理线索（1）进行河口上游运输、定居和幼体（大眼幼体）的变态;（2）在特定生境中保留和幼体（J1-J3龄）。 使用蓝蟹，Callinectes sapidus，作为一个代表性的物种，刺激和抑制化学线索将首先在化学选择管中进行测试，以确定有效的浓度范围内的行为反应，可能涉及栖息地的位置。 进一步的实验室实验与桨轮水槽将研究沉降现场的位置行为和沉降在现实的流动条件下，化学线索和结构。 最后，刺激和抑制线索对变态的影响将被确定。 这些信息将允许更好地了解成功完成的postlarval和早期少年阶段的一些河口甲壳类动物的生命周期和发展的综合描述模型的行为反应的环境刺激的过渡期间，从一个浮游阶段（postlarval），主要是底栖生物的存在作为一个少年在苗圃栖息地的必要条件。

Forward Many estuarine crustaceans have planktonic larvae that develop in coastal/shelf areas and then return to estuaries as postlarvae. This study is designed to test the hypothesis that estuarine crustaceans use chemical and physical cues (1) for up-estuary transport, settlement, and metamorphosis of postlarvae (megalopae) and (2) for retention and juveniles (J1-J3 instars) in specific habitats. Using the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, as a representative species, stimulatory and inhibitory chemical cues will first be tested in a chemical choice tube to determine effective concentration ranges for behavioral responses that are potentially involved in habitat location. Further laboratory experiments with a paddle wheel flume will study settlement site location behavior and settlement in the presence of realistic flow conditions, chemical cues and structure. Finally, the effects of stimulatory and inhibitory cues on metamorphosis will be determined. This information will permit a better understanding of the conditions necessary for successful completion of the postlarval and early juvenile phases of the life cycle of some estuarine crustaceans and the development of an integrative descriptive model of the behavioral responses to environmental stimuli during the transition from a planktonic phase (postlarval) to a mostly benthic existence as a juvenile in a nursery habitat.